Synthesis of cyclic carbonates

ABSTRACT

A process for the production of cyclic carbonates comprising contacting an epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a dimeric aluminum(salen) catalyst, and a co-catalyst capable of supplying Y − , where Y is selected from Cl, Br and I, where the dimeric aluminum(salen) catalyst is of formula I:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to International Application No. PCT/GB2008/001485, filed on Apr. 25, 2008, which claims priority to Great Britain Patent Application No. 0708016.1, filed Apr. 25, 2007, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a process for synthesising cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide using aluminium(salen) complexes as catalysts. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing aluminium(salen) complexes and further provides novel aluminium(salen) complexes.

Cyclic carbonates are commercially important products currently manufactured on a multi-tonne scale for use as polar aprotic solvents, additives, antifoam agents for anti-freeze, plasticisers, and monomers for polymer synthesis (see Darensbourg, et al., Coord. Chem. Rev., 153 (1996), 155-174; Coates, et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 43 (2004), 6618-6639).

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates generally involves the reaction of epoxides with carbon dioxide, and hence could be used to sequestrate carbon dioxide, thus reducing the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide are known in the art (see Darensbourg, et al., Coord. Chem. Rev., 153 (1996), 155-174; Yoshida, et al., Chem. Eur. J., 10 (2004), 2886-2893; Sun, et al., J. Organomet. Chem., 690 (2005), 3490-3497) although these require elevated reaction temperatures and/or high pressures of carbon dioxide, the reaction often being conducted in supercritical carbon dioxide (see Lu, et al., App. Cat. A, 234 (2002), 25-33).

Ratzenhofer, et al., (Angew. Chemie Int. Ed. Engl., 19 (1980), 317-318) succeeded in carrying out the reaction between 2-methyloxirane and carbon dioxide at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using catalysts consisting of a mixture of a metal halide and a Lewis base. However, a long reaction time of 7 days was required. Kisch, et al., (Chem. Ber., 119 (1986), 1090-1094), carrying out the same reaction under the same conditions and also using catalysts of this type, reports a reaction time of 3.5 to 93 hours using up to 4 mol % of a ZnCl₂ catalyst and up to 16 mol % of a (nButyl)₄NI catalyst.

Lu, et al., (J. Mol. Cat. A, 210 (2004), 31-34; J. Cat., 227 (2004), 537-541) describe the use of tetradentate Schiff-base aluminium complexes in conjunction with a quaternary ammonium salt or polyether-KY complexes as catalyst systems for the reaction of various epoxides with carbon dioxide at room temperature and about 6 atmospheres.

Metal(salen) complexes, including aluminium(salen) complexes, are well-known in the art for their use as catalysts. Lu, et al., App. Cat. A, 234 (2002), 25-33, describes the use of a monomeric aluminium(salen) catalyst.

Also known in the art is the method of synthesising aluminium(salen) catalysts by treating a salen ligand with Me₃Al, Et₃Al, Me₂AlCl, Me₂AlOTf, Et₂AlBr or Et₂AlCl in a two-stage process (reviewed in Atwood and Harvey, Chem. Rev., 2001, 101, 37-52).

It has been found by the inventor that dimeric aluminium(salen) complexes are highly active catalysts for the reaction of epoxides with carbon dioxide to produce cyclic carbonates, and allow the reaction to be carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, using short reaction times and commercially viable amounts of catalyst.

Accordingly a first aspect of the invention provides a process for the production of cyclic carbonates comprising contacting an epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst and a co-catalyst capable of supplying Y⁻, where Y is selected from Cl, Br and I. The dimeric aluminium(salen) catalysts are of formula I:

wherein:

Y-Q is CR^(C1)═N or CR^(C1)R^(C2)—NR^(N1), where R^(C1), R^(C2) and R^(N1) are independently selected from H, halo, optionally substituted C₁₋₂₀ alkyl, optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl, ether and nitro;

each of the substituents R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, and R¹⁶, is independently selected from H, halo, optionally substituted C₁₋₂₀ alkyl (including CAr₃, where Ar is a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group), optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl, optionally substituted C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl, ether, ammonium and nitro;

X is either of the formula —(CH₂)_(n)— or —O—(CH₂)_(p)—O—, where n is 2, 3, 4, or 5 and p is 1, 2, or 3, or represents a divalent group selected from C₅₋₇ arylene, C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene and C₃₋₇ heterocyclylene, which may be optionally substituted.

If the catalyst of formula I includes one or more chiral centres, then it may be a (wholly or partially) racemic mixture or other mixture thereof, for example, a mixture enriched in one enantiomer or diastereoisomer, a single enantiomer or diastereoisomer, or a mixture of the stereoisomers. Methods for the preparation (e.g., asymmetric synthesis) and separation (e.g., fractional crystallisation and chromatographic means) of such isomeric forms are either known in the art or are readily obtained by adapting the methods taught herein, or known methods, in a known manner. Preferably the catalyst of formula I is a single enantiomer, if a chiral centre is present.

The cocatalyst is preferably soluble in the reaction mixture. Suitable sources of Y⁻ are MY, where M is a suitable cation, such as onium halides, which include, but are not limited to, R₄NY, R₃SY, R₄PY and R₄SbY, where each R is independently selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and C₅₋₂₀ aryl groups and one R can be an acyl group, and simple halides, e.g. NaCl, KI.

The reaction of the first aspect may be defined as follows:

wherein R^(C3) and R^(C4) are independently selected from H, optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, optionally substituted C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl, or R^(C3) and R^(C4) form an optionally substituted linking group between the two carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached. The linking group, together with the carbon atoms to which it is attached, may form an optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ cycloalkyl or C₅₋₂₀ heterocylyl group. The C₅₋₂₀ cycloalkyl or C₅₋₂₀ heterocylyl group may be substituted only in a single position on the ring, for example, adjacent the epoxide. Suitable substituents, include optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, optionally substituted C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl.

A possible substituent for the C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group is a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group. A further possible group of substituents includes, but is not limited to, a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group (e.g. phenyl, 4-methoxy phenyl), a hydroxy group, a halo group (e.g. Cl), a acetyl group, an ester group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryloxy group (e.g. phenoxy).

The first aspect of the invention also provides the use of a dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula I and a co-catalyst capable of supplying Y⁻ as a catalyst system for the production of cyclic carbonates from epoxides.

The dimeric aluminium(salen) catalysts of the first aspect may be of formula Ia:

where R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and X are as defined above.

A second aspect of the invention provides a process for the synthesis of a dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula Ia comprising treating a salen ligand of formula IV:

where R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and X are as defined above, with) Al(OR^(O))₃ in an organic solvent, wherein R^(O) is selected from C₁₋₄ alkyl and C₅₋₇ aryl.

A third aspect of the invention provides novel compounds of formula I.

The catalysts of the present invention may be immobilized on a solid support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Epoxide: The term “epoxide”, as used herein, may pertain to a compound of the formula

wherein R^(C3) and R^(C4) are independently selected from H, optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, optionally substituted C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl, or R^(C3) and R^(C4) form an optionally substituted linking group between the two carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached. The linking group, together with the carbon atoms to which it is attached, may form an optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ cycloalkyl or C₅₋₂₀ heterocylyl group. The C₅₋₂₀ cycloalkyl or C₅₋₂₀ heterocylyl group may be substituted only in a single position on the ring, for example, adjacent the epoxide. Suitable substituents, include optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, optionally substituted C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl.

The optional substituents may be selected from: C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl, C₅₋₂₀ aryl, halo, hydroxy, ether, cyano, nitro, carboxy, ester, amido, amino, acylamido, ureido, acyloxy, thiol, thioether, sulfoxide, sulfonyl, thioamido and sulfonamino.

In some embodiments, the C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group is substituted by a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group. In other embodiments, the C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group may be substituted by a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group (e.g. phenyl, 4-methoxy phenyl), a hydroxy group, a halo group (e.g. Cl), an acetyl group, an ester group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryloxy group (e.g. phenoxy).

Preferably, the epoxide is a terminal epoxide, i.e. R^(C4)═H.

In some embodiments, R^(C3) is selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₄ alkyl and optionally substituted C₅₋₇ aryl. In some of these embodiments R^(C3) is unsubstituted.

Preferred epoxides are ethylene oxide (R^(C3)═R^(C4)═H), propylene oxide (R^(C3)=methyl, R^(C4)═H), butylene oxide (R^(C3)=ethyl, R^(C4)═H), and styrene oxide (R^(C3)=phenyl, R^(C4)═H). Other epoxides of interest include hydroxypropyl oxide (R^(C3)═CH₂OH, R^(C4)═H), chloropropyl oxide (R^(C3)═CH₂Cl, R^(C4)═H), acetyloxypropyl oxide (R^(C3)═CH₂OAc, R^(C4)═H), phenylcarbonyloxypropyl oxide (R^(C3)═CH₂OCOPh, R^(C4)═H), phenoxypropyl oxide (R^(C3)═CH₂OPh, R^(C4)═H) and 4-methoxyphenylethyl oxide (R^(C3)=4-MeOC₆H₄, R^(C4)═H).

Cyclic carbonate: the term “cyclic carbonate”, as used herein, may pertain to a compound of the formula:

wherein R^(C3) and R^(C4) are as defined above.

Alkyl: The term “alkyl”, as used herein, pertains to a monovalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms (unless otherwise specified), which may be aliphatic or alicyclic and which may be saturated or unsaturated (e.g. partially saturated, fully unsaturated). Thus, the term “alkyl” includes the sub-classes alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, etc., as discussed below.

In the context of alkyl groups, the prefixes (e.g. C₁₋₄, C₁₋₇, C₁₋₂₀, C₂₋₇, C₃₋₇, etc.) denote the number of carbon atoms, or the range of number of carbon atoms. For example, the term “C₁₋₄ alkyl”, as used herein, pertains to an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of groups of alkyl groups include C₁₋₄ alkyl (“lower alkyl”), C₁₋₇ alkyl and C₁₋₂₀ alkyl. Note that the first prefix may vary according to other limitations; for example, for unsaturated alkyl groups, the first prefix must be at least 2; for cyclic alkyl groups, the first prefix must be at least 3; etc.

Examples of (unsubstituted) saturated alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl (C₁), ethyl (C₂), propyl (C₃), butyl (C₄), pentyl (C₅), hexyl (C₆), and heptyl (C₇).

Examples of (unsubstituted) saturated linear alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl (C₁), ethyl (C₂), n-propyl (C₃), n-butyl (C₄), n-pentyl (amyl) (C₅), n-hexyl (C₆), and n-heptyl (C₇).

Examples of (unsubstituted) saturated branched alkyl groups include iso-propyl (C₃), iso-butyl (C₄), sec-butyl (C₄), tert-butyl (C₄), iso-pentyl (C₅), and neo-pentyl (C₅).

Alkenyl: The term “alkenyl”, as used herein, pertains to an alkyl group having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Examples of groups of alkenyl groups include C₂₋₄ alkenyl, C₂₋₇ alkenyl, C₂₋₂₀ alkenyl.

Examples of (unsubstituted) unsaturated alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethenyl (vinyl, —CH═CH₂), 1-propenyl (—CH═CH—CH₃), 2-propenyl (allyl, —CH₂—CH═CH₂), isopropenyl (1-methylvinyl, —C(CH₃)═CH₂), butenyl (C₄), pentenyl (C₅), and hexenyl (C₆).

Alkynyl: The term “alkynyl”, as used herein, pertains to an alkyl group having one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. Examples of groups of alkynyl groups include C₂₋₄ alkynyl, C₂₋₇ alkynyl, C₂₋₂₀ alkynyl.

Examples of (unsubstituted) unsaturated alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl (ethinyl, —C≡CH) and 2-propynyl (propargyl, —CH₂—C≡CH).

Cycloalkyl: the term “cycloalkyl”, as used herein, pertains to an alkyl group which is also a cyclyl group; that is, a monovalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from an alicyclic ring atom of a carbocyclic ring of a carbocyclic compound, which carbocyclic ring may be saturated or unsaturated (e.g. partially unsaturated, fully unsaturated), which moiety has from 3-20 carbon atoms (unless otherwise specified), including from 3 to 20 ring atoms. Thus, the term “cycloalkyl” includes the sub-classes cycloalkenyl and cycloalkynyl. Preferably, each ring has from 3 to 7 ring atoms. Examples of groups of cycloalkyl groups include C₃₋₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₁₅ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl.

Cyclic alkylene: The teen “cyclic alkylene” as used herein pertains to a divalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from each of two adjacent alicyclic ring atoms of a carbocyclic ring of a carbocyclic compound, which carbocyclic ring may be saturated or unsaturated (e.g. partially saturated, fully unsaturated), which moiety has from 3 to 20 carbon atoms (unless otherwise specified), including from 3 to 20 ring atoms. Preferably each ring has from 5 to 7 ring atoms. Examples of groups of cyclic alkylene groups include C₃₋₂₀ cyclic alkylenes, C₃₋₁₅ cyclic alkylenes, C₃₋₁₀ cyclic alkylenes, C₃₋₇ cyclic alkylenes.

Examples of cycloalkyl groups and cyclic alkylene groups include, but are not limited to, those derived from:

saturated monocyclic hydrocarbon compounds:

cyclopropane (C₃), cyclobutane (C₄), cyclopentane (C₅), cyclohexane (C₆), cycloheptane (C₇), methylcyclopropane (C₄), dimethylcyclopropane (C₅), methylcyclobutane (C₅), dimethylcyclobutane (C₆), methylcyclopentane (C₆), dimethylcyclopentane (C₇), methylcyclohexane (C₇), dimethylcyclohexane (C₈), menthane (C₁₀;

unsaturated monocyclic hydrocarbon compounds:

cyclopropene (C₃), cyclobutene (C₄), cyclopentene (C₅), cyclohexene (C₆), methylcyclopropene (C₄), dimethylcyclopropene (C₅), methylcyclobutene (C₅), dimethylcyclobutene (C₆), methylcyclopentene (C₆), dimethylcyclopentene (C₇), methylcyclohexene (C₇), dimethylcyclohexene (C₈);

saturated polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds:

thujane (C₁₀), carane (C₁₀), pinane (C₁₀), bornane (C₁₀), norcarane (C₇), norpinane (C₇), norbornane (C₇), adamantane (C₁₀), decalin (decahydronaphthalene) (C₁₀);

unsaturated polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds:

camphene (C₁₀), limonene (C₁₀), pinene (C₁₀);

polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds having an aromatic ring:

indene (C₉), indane (e.g., 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene) (C₉), tetraline (1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene) (C₁₀), acenaphthene (C₁₂), fluorene (C₁₃), phenalene (C₁₃), acephenanthrene (C₁₅), aceanthrene (C₁₆), cholanthrene (C₂₀).

Heterocyclyl: The term “heterocyclyl”, as used herein, pertains to a monovalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from a ring atom of a heterocyclic compound, which moiety has from 3 to 20 ring atoms (unless otherwise specified), of which from 1 to 10 are ring heteroatoms. Preferably, each ring has from 3 to 7 ring atoms, of which from 1 to 4 are ring heteroatoms.

Heterocyclylene: The term “heterocyclylene”, as used herein, pertains to a divalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from each of two adjacent ring atoms of a heterocyclic compound, which moiety has from 3 to 20 ring atoms (unless otherwise specified), of which from 1 to 10 are ring heteroatoms. Preferably, each ring has from 3 to 7 ring atoms, of which from 1 to 4 are ring heteroatoms.

The heterocyclyl or heterocyclylene group may be bonded via carbon or hetero ring atoms. Preferably, the heterocyclylene group is bonded via two carbon atoms.

When referring to heterocyclyl or heterocyclylene groups, the prefixes (e.g. C₃₋₂₀, C₃₋₇, C₅₋₆, etc.) denote the number of ring atoms, or range of number of ring atoms, whether carbon atoms or heteroatoms. For example, the term “C₅₋₆ heterocyclyl”, as used herein, pertains to a heterocyclyl group having 5 or 6 ring atoms. Examples of groups of heterocyclyl groups include C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl, C₅₋₂₀ heterocyclyl, C₃₋₁₅ heterocyclyl, C₅₋₁₅ heterocyclyl, C₃₋₁₂ heterocyclyl, C₅₋₁₂ heterocyclyl, C₃₋₁₀ heterocyclyl, C₅₋₁₀ heterocyclyl, C₃₋₇ heterocyclyl, C₅₋₇ heterocyclyl, and C₅₋₆ heterocyclyl.

Similarly, the term “C₅₋₆ heterocyclylene”, as used herein, pertains to a heterocyclylene group having 5 or 6 ring atoms. Examples of groups of heterocyclylene groups include C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclylene, C₅₋₂₀ heterocyclylene, C₃₋₁₅ heterocyclylene, C₅₋₁₅ heterocyclylene, C₃₋₁₂ heterocyclylene, C₅₋₁₂ heterocyclylene, C₃₋₁₀ heterocyclylene, C₅₋₁₀ heterocyclylene, C₃₋₇ heterocyclylene, C₅₋₇ heterocyclylene, and C₅₋₆ heterocyclylene.

Examples of monocyclic heterocyclyl and heterocyclylene groups include, but are not limited to, those derived from:

N₁: aziridine (C₃), azetidine (C₄), pyrrolidine (tetrahydropyrrole) (C₅), pyrroline (e.g., 3-pyrroline, 2,5-dihydropyrrole) (C₅), 2H-pyrrole or 3H-pyrrole (isopyrrole, isoazole) (C₅), piperidine (C₆), dihydropyridine (C₆), tetrahydropyridine (C₆), azepine (C₇);

O₁: oxirane (C₃), oxetane (C₄), oxolane (tetrahydrofuran) (C₅), oxole (dihydrofuran) (C₅), oxane (tetrahydropyran) (C₆), dihydropyran (C₆), pyran (C₆), oxepin (C₇);

S₁: thiirane (C₃), thietane (C₄), thiolane (tetrahydrothiophene) (C₅), thiane (tetrahydrothiopyran) (C₆), thiepane (C₇);

O₂: dioxolane (C₅), dioxane (C₆), and dioxepane (C₇);

O₃: trioxane (C₆);

N₂: imidazolidine (C₅), pyrazolidine (diazolidine) (C₅), imidazoline (C₅), pyrazoline (dihydropyrazole) (C₅), piperazine (C₆);

N₁O₁: tetrahydrooxazole (C₅), dihydrooxazole (C₅), tetrahydroisoxazole (C₅), dihydroisoxazole (C₅), morpholine (C₆), tetrahydrooxazine (C₆), dihydrooxazine (C₆), oxazine (C₆);

N₁S₁: thiazoline (C₅), thiazolidine (C₅), thiomorpholine (C₆);

N₂O₁: oxadiazine (C₆);

O₁S₁: oxathiole (C₅) and oxathiane (thioxane) (C₆); and,

N₁O₁S₁: oxathiazine (C₆).

Examples of substituted (non-aromatic) monocyclic heterocyclyl and heterocyclylene groups include those derived from saccharides, in cyclic form, for example, furanoses (C₅), such as arabinofuranose, lyxofuranose, ribofuranose, and xylofuranse, and pyranoses (C₆), such as allopyranose, altropyranose, glucopyranose, mannopyranose, gulopyranose, idopyranose, galactopyranose, and talopyranose.

C₅₋₂₀ aryl: The term “C₅₋₂₀ aryl”, as used herein, pertains to a monovalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from an aromatic ring atom of a C₅₋₂₀ aromatic compound, said compound having one ring, or two or more rings (e.g., fused), and having from 5 to 20 ring atoms, and wherein at least one of said ring(s) is an aromatic ring. Preferably, each ring has from 5 to 7 carbon atoms.

The ring atoms may be all carbon atoms, as in “carboaryl groups” in which case the group may conveniently be referred to as a “C₅₋₂₀ carboaryl” group.

C₅₋₂₀ arylene: The term “C₅₋₂₀ arylene”, as used herein, pertains to a divalent moiety obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from each of two adjacent ring atoms of a C₅₋₂₀ aromatic compound, said compound having one ring, or two or more rings (e.g., fused), and having from 5 to 20 ring atoms, and wherein at least one of said ring(s) is an aromatic ring. Preferably, each ring has from 5 to 7 carbon atoms.

The ring atoms may be all carbon atoms, as in “carboarylene groups” in which case the group may conveniently be referred to as a “C₅₋₂₀ carboarylene” group.

Examples of C₅₋₂₀ aryl and C₅₋₂₀ arylene groups which do not have ring heteroatoms (i.e. C₅₋₂₀ carboaryl and C₅₋₂₀ carboarylene groups) include, but are not limited to, those derived from benzene (i.e. phenyl) (C₆), naphthalene (C₁₀), anthracene (C₁₄), phenanthrene (C₁₄), and pyrene (C₁₆).

Alternatively, the ring atoms may include one or more heteroatoms, including but not limited to oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, as in “heteroaryl groups” or “heteroarylene groups”. In this case, the group may conveniently be referred to as a “C₅₋₂₀ heteroaryl” or “C₅₋₂₀ heteroarylene” group, wherein “C₅₋₂₀” denotes ring atoms, whether carbon atoms or heteroatoms. Preferably, each ring has from 5 to 7 ring atoms, of which from 0 to 4 are ring heteroatoms.

The heteroaryl or heteroarylene group may be bonded via carbon or hetero ring atoms. Preferably, the heteroarylene group is bonded via two carbon atoms.

Examples of C₅₋₂₀ heteroaryl and C₅₋₂₀ heteroarylene groups include, but are not limited to, C₅ heteroaryl and C₅ heteroarylene groups derived from furan (oxole), thiophene (thiole), pyrrole (azole), imidazole (1,3-diazole), pyrazole (1,2-diazole), triazole, oxazole, isoxazole, thiazole, isothiazole, oxadiazole, tetrazole and oxatriazole; and C₆ heteroaryl groups derived from isoxazine, pyridine (azine), pyridazine (1,2-diazine), pyrimidine (1,3-diazine; e.g., cytosine, thymine, uracil), pyrazine (1,4-diazine) and triazine.

Examples of C₅₋₂₀ heteroaryl and C₅₋₂₀ heteroarylene groups which comprise fused rings, include, but are not limited to, C₉ heteroaryl and C₉ heteroarylene groups derived from benzofuran, isobenzofuran, benzothiophene, indole, isoindole; C₁₀ heteroaryl and C₁₀ heteroarylene groups derived from quinoline, isoquinoline, benzodiazine, pyridopyridine; C₁₄ heteroaryl and C₁₄ heteroarylene groups derived from acridine and xanthene.

The above alkyl, cyclic alkylene, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylene, aryl, and arylene groups, whether alone or part of another substituent, may themselves optionally be substituted with one or more groups selected from themselves and the additional substituents listed below.

Halo: —F, —Cl, —Br, and —I.

Hydroxy: —OH.

Ether: —OR, wherein R is an ether substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group (also referred to as a C₁₋₇ alkoxy group), a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group (also referred to as a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyloxy group), or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group (also referred to as a C₅₋₂₀ aryloxy group), preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group.

Nitro: —NO₂.

Cyano (nitrile, carbonitrile): —CN.

Acyl (keto): —C(═O)R, wherein R is an acyl substituent, for example, H, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group (also referred to as C₁₋₇ alkylacyl or C₁₋₇ alkanoyl), a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group (also referred to as C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclylacyl), or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group (also referred to as C₅₋₂₀ arylacyl), preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of acyl groups include, but are not limited to, —C(═O)CH₃ (acetyl), —C(═O)CH₂CH₃ (propionyl), —C(═O)C(CH₃)₃ (pivaloyl), and —C(═O)Ph (benzoyl, phenone).

Carboxy (carboxylic acid): —COOH.

Ester (carboxylate, carboxylic acid ester, oxycarbonyl): —C(═O)OR, wherein R is an ester substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of ester groups include, but are not limited to, —C(═O)OCH₃, —C(═O)OCH₂CH₃, —C(═O)OC(CH₃)₃, and —C(═O)OPh.

Amido (carbamoyl, carbamyl, aminocarbonyl, carboxamide): —C(═O)NR¹R², wherein R¹ and R² are independently amino substituents, as defined for amino groups. Examples of amido groups include, but are not limited to, —C(═O)NH₂, —C(═O)NHCH₃, —C(═O)N(CH₃)₂, —C(═O)NHCH₂CH₃, and —C(═O)N(CH₂CH₃)₂, as well as amido groups in which R¹ and R², together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic structure as in, for example, piperidinocarbonyl, morpholinocarbonyl, thiomorpholinocarbonyl, and piperazinylcarbonyl.

Amino: —NR¹R², wherein R¹ and R² are independently amino substituents, for example, hydrogen, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group (also referred to as C₁₋₇ alkylamino or di-C₁₋₇ alkylamino), a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably H or a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, or, in the case of a “cyclic” amino group, R¹ and R², taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 ring atoms. Examples of amino groups include, but are not limited to, —NH₂, —NHCH₃, —NHCH(CH₃)₂, —N(CH₃)₂, —N(CH₂CH₃)₂, and —NHPh. Examples of cyclic amino groups include, but are not limited to, aziridinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidino, piperazinyl, perhydrodiazepinyl, morpholino, and thiomorpholino. In particular, the cyclic amino groups may be substituted on their ring by any of the substituents defined here, for example carboxy, carboxylate and amido.

Ammonium: —NH₄ ⁺Z⁻, wherein Z⁻ is an appropriate counterion, such ashalide (e.g. Cl⁻, Br⁻), nitroate, perchlorate.

Acylamido (acylamino): —NR¹C(═O)R², wherein R¹ is an amide substituent, for example, hydrogen, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably H or a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, most preferably H, and R² is an acyl substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of acylamide groups include, but are not limited to, —NHC(═O)CH₃, —NHC(═O)CH₂CH₃, and —NHC(═O)Ph. R¹ and R² may together form a cyclic structure, as in, for example, succinimidyl, maleimidyl, and phthalimidyl:

Ureido: —N(R¹)CONR²R³ wherein R² and R³ are independently amino substituents, as defined for amino groups, and R¹ is a ureido substituent, for example, hydrogen, a C₁₋₇alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀aryl group, preferably hydrogen or a C₁₋₇alkyl group. Examples of ureido groups include, but are not limited to, —NHCONH₂, —NHCONHMe, —NHCONHEt, —NHCONMe₂, —NHCONEt₂, —NMeCONH₂, —NMeCONHMe, —NMeCONHEt, —NMeCONMe₂, —NMeCONEt₂ and —NHCONHPh.

Acyloxy (reverse ester): —OC(═O)R, wherein R is an acyloxy substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of acyloxy groups include, but are not limited to, —OC(═O)CH₃ (acetoxy), —OC(═O)CH₂CH₃, —OC(═O)C(CH₃)₃, —OC(═O)Ph, —OC(═O)C₆H₄F, and —OC(═O)CH₂Ph.

Thiol: —SH.

Thioether (sulfide): —SR, wherein R is a thioether substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group (also referred to as a C₁₋₇ alkylthio group), a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of C₁₋₇ alkylthio groups include, but are not limited to, —SCH₃ and —SCH₂CH₃.

Sulfoxide (sulfinyl): —S(═O)R, wherein R is a sulfoxide substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of sulfoxide groups include, but are not limited to, —S(═O)CH₃ and —S(═O)CH₂CH₃.

Sulfonyl (sulfone): —S(═O)₂R, wherein R is a sulfone substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇ alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀ aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇ alkyl group. Examples of sulfone groups include, but are not limited to, —S(═O)₂CH₃ (methanesulfonyl, mesyl), —S(═O)₂CF₃, —S(═O)₂CH₂CH₃, and 4-methylphenylsulfonyl (tosyl).

Thioamido (thiocarbamyl): —C(═S)NR¹R², wherein R¹ and R² are independently amino substituents, as defined for amino groups. Examples of amido groups include, but are not limited to, —C(═S)NH₂, —C(═S)NHCH₃, —C(═S)N(CH₃)₂, and —C(═S)NHCH₂CH₃.

Sulfonamino: —NR¹S(═O)₂R, wherein R¹ is an amino substituent, as defined for amino groups, and R is a sulfonamino substituent, for example, a C₁₋₇alkyl group, a C₃₋₂₀heterocyclyl group, or a C₅₋₂₀aryl group, preferably a C₁₋₇alkyl group. Examples of sulfonamino groups include, but are not limited to, —NHS(═O)₂CH₃, —NHS(═O)₂Ph and —N(CH₃)S(═O)₂C₆H₅.

As mentioned above, the groups that form the above listed substituent groups, e.g. C₁₋₇ alkyl, C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and C₅₋₂₀ aryl, may themselves be substituted. Thus, the above definitions cover substituent groups which are substituted.

Chemically Protected Forms

It may be convenient or desirable to prepare, purify, handle and/or use the active compound in a chemically protected form. The term “chemically protected form” is used herein in the conventional chemical sense and pertains to a compound in which one or more reactive functional groups are protected from undesirable chemical reactions under specified conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, radiation, solvent, and the like). In practice, well known chemical methods are employed to reversibly render unreactive a functional group, which otherwise would be reactive, under specified conditions. In a chemically protected form, one or more reactive functional groups are in the form of a protected or protecting group (also known as a masked or masking group or a blocked or blocking group). By protecting a reactive functional group, reactions involving other unprotected reactive functional groups can be performed, without affecting the protected group; the protecting group may be removed, usually in a subsequent step, without substantially affecting the remainder of the molecule. See, for example, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (T. Green and P. Wuts; 3rd Edition; John Wiley and Sons, 1999).

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a particular compound also includes chemically protected forms thereof.

A wide variety of such “protecting,” “blocking,” or “masking” methods are widely used and well known in organic synthesis. For example, a compound which has two nonequivalent reactive functional groups, both of which would be reactive under specified conditions, may be derivatized to render one of the functional groups “protected,” and therefore unreactive, under the specified conditions; so protected, the compound may be used as a reactant which has effectively only one reactive functional group. After the desired reaction (involving the other functional group) is complete, the protected group may be “deprotected” to return it to its original functionality.

For example, a hydroxy group may be protected as an ether (—OR) or an ester (—OC(═O)R), for example, as: a t-butyl ether; a benzyl, benzhydryl (diphenylmethyl), or trityl (triphenylmethyl)ether; a trimethylsilyl or t-butyldimethylsilyl ether; or an acetyl ester (—OC(═O)CH₃, —OAc).

For example, an aldehyde or ketone group may be protected as an acetal (R—CH(OR)₂) or ketal (R₂C(OR)₂), respectively, in which the carbonyl group (>C═O) is converted to a diether (>C(OR)₂), by reaction with, for example, a primary alcohol. The aldehyde or ketone group is readily regenerated by hydrolysis using a large excess of water in the presence of acid.

For example, an amine group may be protected, for example, as an amide (—NRCO—R) or a urethane (—NRCO—OR), for example, as: a methyl amide (—NHCO—CH₃); a benzyloxy amide (—NHCO—OCH₂C₆H₅, —NH—Cbz); as a t-butoxy amide (—NHCO—OC(CH₃)₃, —NH-Boc); a 2-biphenyl-2-propoxy amide (—NHCO—OC(CH₃)₂C₆H₄C₆H₅, —NH-Bpoc), as a 9-fluorenylmethoxy amide (—NH-Fmoc), as a 6-nitroveratryloxy amide (—NH-Nvoc), as a 2-trimethylsilylethyloxy amide (—NH-Teoc), as a 2,2,2-trichloroethyloxy amide (—NH-Troc), as an allyloxy amide (—NH-Alloc), as a 2(-phenylsulphonyl)ethyloxy amide (—NH-Psec); or, in suitable cases (e.g., cyclic amines), as a nitroxide radical (>N—O●).

For example, a carboxylic acid group may be protected as an ester for example, as: an C₁₋₇alkyl ester (e.g., a methyl ester; a t-butyl ester); a C₁₋₇haloalkyl ester (e.g., a C₁₋₇trihaloalkyl ester); a triC₁₋₇alkylsilyl-C₁₋₇alkyl ester; or a C₅₋₂₀aryl-C₁₋₇alkyl ester (e.g., a benzyl ester; a nitrobenzyl ester); or as an amide, for example, as a methyl amide.

For example, a thiol group may be protected as a thioether (—SR), for example, as: a benzyl thioether; an acetamidomethyl ether (—S—CH₂NHC(═O)CH₃).

In particular application in the present invention is the protection of hydroxy and amino groups.

Solid Support

Catalysts of the present invention may be immobilized on a solid support by:

(a) steric trapping; or

(b) electrostatic binding.

These methods are reviewed by Carlos Baleizão and Hermenegildo Garcia in “Chiral Salen Complexes An Overview to Recoverable and Reusable Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysts” (Chem. Rev. 2006, 106, 3987-4043).

For steric trapping, the most suitable class of solid support is zeolites, which may be natural or modified. The pore size must be sufficiently small to trap the catalyst but sufficiently large to allow the passage of reactants and products to and from the catalyst. Suitable zeolites include zeolites X, Y and EMT as well as those which have been partially degraded to provide mesopores, that allow easier transport of reactants and products.

For the electrostatic binding of the catalyst to a solid support, typical solid supports may include silica, Indian clay, Al-pillared clay, Al-MCM-41, K10, laponite, bentonite, and zinc-alumium layered double hydroxide. Of these silica and montmorillonite clay are of particular interest.

Catalysed Reactions

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the production of cyclic carbonates comprising contacting an epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula I, preferably of formula Ia, and a co-catalyst which is a source of Y⁻.

This reaction has the advantage that it may be carried out at easily accessible temperatures of between 0 and 40° C. and pressures of between 0.5 and 2 atm. Preferably, the reaction temperature lies between 20 and 30° C. Yields of over 50% may be achieved with short reaction times of 3 to 24 hours, using commercially viable amounts of catalyst, that is, from 0.1 to 10 mol %, preferably 0.1 to 2.5 mol %. In some cases, yields of over 70% or over 90% may be achieved under these conditions.

Preferably, the aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula I is symmetrical, such that R¹═R¹³, R²═R¹⁴, R³═R¹⁵, R⁴═R¹⁶, R⁵═R⁹, R⁶═R¹⁰, R⁷═R¹¹, and R⁸═R¹². More preferably R¹, R⁵, R⁹, and R¹³ are identical, R², R⁶, R¹⁰ and R¹⁴ are identical, R³, R⁷, R¹¹, and R¹⁵ are identical, and R⁴, R⁸, R¹² and R¹⁶ are identical. Such catalysts are of formula Ia, which may be preferred.

In some embodiments, X is —(CH₂)_(n)— or —O—(CH₂)_(p)—O—, where n is 2, 3, 4, or 5 and p is 1, 2, or 3. In these embodiments, n is preferably 2 or 3 and p is preferably 1 or 2. n is more preferably 2. In some embodiments, n is preferably 3. In these embodiments X is preferably —(CH₂)_(n)— (e.g. —C₂H₄—, —C₃H₆—).

In other embodiments, X represents a divalent group selected from C₅₋₇ arylene, C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene and C₃₋₇ heterocyclylene, which may be optionally substituted. Preferably X represents C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene, and more preferably C₆ cyclic alkylene. This group is preferably saturated, and therefore is the group:

In other preferred embodiments, X represents C₅₋₇ arylene, which is more preferably C₆ arylene, and in particular, benzylene:

When X represents a divalent group selected from C₅₋₇ arylene, C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene and C₃₋₇ heterocyclylene, it may preferably be unsubstituted. If it is substituted, then the substituents may be selected from nitro, halo, C₁₋₄ alkyl, including substituted C₁₋₄ alkyl, (e.g. methyl, benzyl), C₁₋₄ alkoxy (e.g. methoxy) and hydroxy.

Preferably Y-Q is CR^(C1)═N, wherein R^(C1) is as defined above. R^(C1) is preferably selected from H and C₁₋₄ alkyl. More preferably Y-Q is CH═N.

If Y-Q is CR^(C1)R^(C2)—NR^(N1), then in some embodiments R^(C1), R^(C2) and R^(N1) are H.

Preferably R⁴═R⁸═R¹²═R¹⁶═H. Preferably R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ are independently selected from H, C₁₋₇ alkyl, ether and nitro.

If a group selected from R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ is ether, then the ether group is preferably a C₁₋₇ alkoxy group and more preferably C₁₋₄ alkoxy group, e.g. methoxy.

If a group selected from R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ is C₁₋₇ alkyl, it is preferably butyl, more preferably tert-butyl. In other embodiments, the C₁₋₇ alkyl is preferably optionally substituted methyl, e.g. diC₁₋₄ alkylamino substituted methyl (diethylaminomethyl).

A particularly preferred set of embodiments of the catalyst of formula Ia have:

Y-Q is CH═N;

X as:

(i) —C₂H₄—;

(ii) 1,2 C₆ cyclic alkylene; or

(iii) 1,2 benzylene;

R⁴═H;

R¹, R² and R³ selected from H, tert-butyl, methoxy and nitro, where only one of these three groups can be nitro.

A further particularly preferred set of embodiments of the catalyst of formula Ia have:

Y-Q is CH═N;

X as:

(iii) 1,2 benzylene;

(iv) —C₃H₆—

R⁴═H;

one of R¹, R² and R³ is diC₁₋₄ alkyl amino methyl, and the others of R¹, R² and R³ are H.

The cocatalyst is a source of Y⁻, and in particular MY, where M is a suitable cation, such as onium halides, which include, but are not limited to, R₄NY, R₃SY, R₄PY and R₄SbY, where each R is independently selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and C₅₋₂₀ aryl groups and one R can be an acyl group, and simple halides, e.g. NaCl, KI.

It is preferred that the co-catalyst for this reaction is of the form R₄NY, where each R is independently C₁₋₁₀ alkyl and Y is selected from I, Br and Cl. R is preferably selected from C₃₋₅ alkyl, and more preferably is butyl. Y is preferably Br. Therefore, a particularly preferred co-catalyst is Bu₄NBr. The amount of co-catalyst is preferably 0.1 to 10 mol %, more preferably 0.1 to 2.5 mol %.

The reaction may be carried out under solvent-free conditions, depending on the epoxides used. In some cases, the epoxides may act as a solvent for the catalyst.

Manufacture of Dimeric Aluminium(Salen) Complexes

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for the production of dimeric aluminium(salen) catalysts of formula Ia comprising treating a salen ligand of formula IV with Al(OR^(O))₃ in an organic solvent, wherein R^(O)═C₁₋₄ alkyl or C₅₋₇ aryl.

The organic solvent can be an aprotic solvent. Preferably, the organic solvent is toluene. It is also preferred that R^(O) is C₁₋₄ alkyl and more preferably ethyl. The reaction time preferably lies between 2 and 18 hours, more preferably between 3 and 10 hours.

The reaction may be heated, if required, by any conventional means. In some embodiments, the carbon dioxide may be supplied heated, and in other embodiments, the reaction may be heated by a convention or microwave system.

Novel Dimeric Aluminium(Salen) Complexes

In a third aspect of the invention there are provided novel aluminium(salen) complexes of formula I. In particular, these novel catalysts may have:

at least one of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, or R¹⁶ as nitro;

at least one of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, or R¹⁶ as ether.

In general, the preferences expressed in regard the first aspect of the invention may apply to the third aspect, provided that they are compatible with the above statements.

Preferably, the aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula I is symmetrical, such that R¹═R¹³, R²═R¹⁴, R³═R¹⁵, R⁴═R¹⁶, R⁵═R⁹, R⁶═R¹⁰, R⁷═R¹¹, and R⁸═R¹². More preferably R¹, R⁵, R⁹, and R¹³ are identical, R², R⁶, R¹⁰ and R¹⁴ are identical, R³, R⁷, R¹¹, and R¹⁵ are identical, and R⁴, R⁸, R¹² and R¹⁶ are identical. Such catalysts are of formula Ia.

In some embodiments, X is —(CH₂)_(n)— or —O—(CH₂)_(p)—O—, where n is 2, 3, 4, or 5 and p is 1, 2, or 3. In these embodiments, n is preferably 2 or 3 and p is preferably 1 or 2. n is more preferably 2. In these embodiments X is preferably —(CH₂)_(n)— (e.g. —C₂H₄—).

In other embodiments, X represents a divalent group selected from C₅₋₇ arylene, C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene and C₃₋₇ heterocyclylene, which may be optionally substituted. Preferably X represents C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene, and more preferably C₆ cyclic alkylene. This group is preferably saturated, and therefore is the group:

In other preferred embodiments, X represents C₅₋₇ arylene, which is more preferably C₆ arylene, and in particular, benzylene:

When X represents a divalent group selected from C₅₋₇ arylene, C₅₋₇ cyclic alkylene and C₃₋₇ heterocyclylene, it may preferably be unsubstituted. If it is substituted, then the substituents may be selected from C₁₋₄ alkyl (e.g. methyl), C₁₋₄ alkoxy (e.g. methoxy) and hydroxy.

Preferably Y-Q is CR^(C1)═N, wherein R^(C1) is as defined above. R^(C1) is preferably selected from H and C₁₋₄ alkyl. More preferably Y-Q is CH═N.

If Y-Q is CR^(C1)R^(C2)—NR^(N1) then in some embodiments R^(C1), R^(C2) and R^(N1) are H.

Preferably R⁴═R⁸═R¹²═R¹⁶═H. Preferably R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ are independently selected from H, C₁₋₇ alkyl, ether and nitro.

If a group selected from R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ is ether, then the ether group is preferably a C₁₋₇ alkoxy group and more preferably C₁₋₄ alkoxy group, e.g. methoxy.

If a group selected from R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ is C₁₋₇ alkyl, it is preferably butyl, more preferably tert-butyl.

More preferably, the catalyst is of formula Ia.

A particularly preferred set of embodiments of the novel catalyst of formula Ia have:

Y-Q is CH═N;

X as 1,2 C₆ cyclic alkylene;

R⁴═H; and

(i) R¹═R³=tert-butyl and R²═H;

(ii) R¹═R³═H and R²=methoxy;

(iii) R¹═R²═R³═H;

(iv) R¹=tert-butyl and R²═R³═H; or

(v) R¹=tert-butyl, R²═H and R³=methoxy.

A further particularly preferred set of embodiments of the catalyst of formula Ia have:

Y-Q is CH═N;

X as:

(iii) 1,2 benzylene;

(iv) —C₃H₆—

R⁴═H;

one of R¹, R² and R³ is diC₁₋₄ alkyl amino methyl, and the others of R¹, R² and R³ are H.

EXAMPLES General Experimental Methods

IR spectroscopy

IR spectra of liquids or of solids dissolved in a solvent were recorded between NaCl plates on a PE Spectrum 1 spectrometer. IR spectra of pure solids were recorded on a Nicolet380 FTIR spectrometer fitted with a ‘Smart orbit’ attachment.

NMR

All NMR spectra were recorded at ambient temperature on a Bruker Avance 300 spectrometer. The sample was dissolved in CDCl₃ unless specified otherwise.

Mass Spectroscopy

low resolution EI and CI spectra were recorded on a Varian Saturn 2200 GC-mass spectrometer. Low and high resolution electrospray spectra were recorded on a Waters LCT Premier mass spectrometer.

Example 1 General Procedure for the Synthesis of Catalysts 1a-h

1a: X=(1R,2R)-cyclohexyl; R¹═R³=^(t)Bu; R²═R⁴═H 1b: X=(1R,2R)-cyclohexyl; R¹=^(t)Bu; R²═R⁴═H; R³═NO₂ 1c: X═(CH₂)₂; R¹═R³=^(t)Bu; R²═R⁴═H 1d: X=1,2-C₆H₄; R¹═R³=^(t)Bu; R²═R⁴═H 1e: X=(1R,2R)-cyclohexyl; R¹═R³═R⁴═H; R²═OMe 1f: X=(1R,2R)-cyclohexyl; R¹═R²═R³═R⁴═H 1g: X=(1R,2R)-cyclohexyl; R¹=^(t)Bu; R²═R³═R⁴═H; 1h: X=(1R,2R)-cyclohexyl; R¹=^(t)Bu; R²═H; R³═OMe; R⁴═H

Al(OEt)₃ (0.28 g, 1.72 mmol) was added to dry toluene (60 mL) and stirred under reflux for 1 hour. The appropriate salen ligand (1.68 mmol) dissolved in dry toluene (40 mL) was then added and the reaction mixture was stirred under reflux for a further 3 hours before being allowed to cool to room temperature. The solution was dried (Na₂SO₄) and solvents were evaporated in vacuo to give a solid which was purified as specified below. The analysis data are set out below.

Data for complex 1a: Yellow solid purified by washing with cold hexane. Yield 63%;

[α]_(D) ²⁰ −548 (c=0.11, CHCl₃); ν_(max)(CH₂Cl₂) 2953 m, 1626 m, and 1474 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.35 (2H, s, CH═N), 8.15 (2H, s, CH═N), 7.52 (4H, d J2.3 Hz, 4×ArH), 7.07 (4H, d J2.3 Hz, 4×ArH), 3.9-3.7 (2H, br m, CHN), 3.2-3.0 (2H, br m, CHN), 2.7-1.8 (16H, m, 2×(CH₂)₄), 1.50 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃), 1.29 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃); m/z (ESI) 1159.7 (MH⁺), 649.4, 623.4, 603.4, 569.3. Found (ESI) 1159.7106, C₇₂H₁₀₅N₄O₅Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 1159.7716.

Data for complex 1b: Orange solid purified by washing with Et₂O. Yield 63%;

[α]_(D) ²⁰ −575 (c=0.1, toluene); ν_(max)(ATR) 2925 w, 1638 m, 1599 m, and 1573 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.64 (4H, s, 4×CH═N), 8.36 (4H, s, 4×ArH), 8.02 (4H, s, 4×ArH), 3.7-3.8 (4H, br, CHN), 3.7-2.0 (16H, m, 2×(CH₂)₄), 1.55 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃); m/z (ESI) 1115.4 (MH⁺). Found (ESI) 1115.4536 C₅₆H₆₉N₈O₁₃Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 1115.4615.

Data for complex 1c: Yellow solid purified by washing with cold Et₂O. Yield 50%;

ν_(max)(ATR) 2950 m, 2866 w, 1628 m, and 1538 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.38 (4H, s, 4×CH═N), 7.52 (4H, d J2.5 Hz, 4×ArH), 7.04 (4H, d J2.6 Hz, 4×ArH), 4.2-4.1 (4H, br, (CH₂)₂), 3.8-3.7 (4H, br, (CH₂)₂), 1.30 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃), 1.55 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃); m/z (ESI) 1051.7 (MH⁺), 664.5, 638.5, 549.4, 517.3. Found (ESI) 1051.6721 C₆₄H₉₃N₄O₅Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 1051.6777.

Data for complex 1d: The reaction was heated at reflux overnight and gave an orange powder. Yield 60%;

ν_(max)(CH₂Cl₂) 2952 m, 2868 m, 1614 s, 1583 s, and 1531 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.66 (4H, s, 4×CH═N), 7.43 (4H, d J2.3 Hz, 4×ArH), 7.3-7.2 (4H, m, 4×ArH), 7.2-7.0 (8H, m, 8×ArH), 1.43 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃), 1.32 (36H, s, 4×(CH₃)₃); m/z (Maldi) 1147.7 (MH⁺), 582.3, 540.4. Found (ESI) 1147.6801 C₇₂H₉₃N₄O₅Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 1147.6777.

Data for complex 1e: The reaction was heated at reflux overnight and gave a yellow powder which was purified by dissolution in cold Et₂O followed by evaporation of solvent in vacuo. Yield 35%;

[α]_(D) ²⁰ −753 (c=0.1, CHCl₃); ν_(max)(ATR) 2937 m, 2838 m, 1606 s, and 1537 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 9.87 (4H, s, 4×CH═N), 7.18 (4H, dd J8.9, 3.0 Hz, 4×ArH), 7.03 (4H, d J3.1 Hz, 4×ArH), 6.97 (4H, d J9.0 Hz, 4×ArH), 3.82 (12H, s, 4×OCH₃), 3.8-3.5 (4H, m, 4×CHN), 1.5-1.2 (16H, m 2×(CH₂)₄); m/z (Maldi) 831.3 (MH⁺), 789.3, 662.4, 407.1. Found (ESI) 831.3139 C₄₄H₄₉N₄O₉Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 831.3130.

Data for complex 1f: The reaction was heated at reflux overnight and gave a yellow powder which was purified by dissolution in cold Et₂O followed by evaporation of solvent in vacuo. Yield 33%;

[α]_(D) ²⁰ −381 (c=0.1, CHCl₃); ν_(max)(ATR) 2863 w, 1628 s, 1601 m, and 1537 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.27 (4H, s, CH═N), 7.5-7.4 (4H, m, ArH), 7.2-7.1 (4H, m, ArH), 7.0-6.9 (4H, m, ArH), 6.9-6.8 (4H, m, ArH), 3.4-3.3 (4H, m, CHN), 2.0-1.5 (16H, m, 2×(CH₂)₄); m/z (ESI) (Maldi) 711.3 (MH⁺), 669.3, 364.1, 347.1. Found (ESI) 711.2708 C₄₀H₄₁N₄O₅Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 711.2708.

Data for complex 1g: The reaction was heated at reflux overnight and gave a yellow powder which was purified by dissolution in cold Et₂O followed by evaporation of solvent in vacuo and chromatography on Sephadex LH50 using toleune/ethanol (1:1) as eluent. Yield 45%;

[α]_(D) ²⁰ −372 (c=2 (0.1, CHCl₃); ν_(max)(ATR) 2951 m, 1633 s, and 1538 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.28 (4H, s, 4×CH═N), 7.29 (4H, dd J8.1, 2.1 Hz, 4×ArH), 7.14 (4H, d J2.7 Hz, 4×ArH), 6.84 (4H, d J8.7 Hz, 4×ArH), 3.4-3.2 (4H, m, 4×CHN), 2.0-1.4 (16H, m 2×(CH₂)₄), 1.45 (36H, s, 4×C(CH₃)₃); m/z (Maldi) 935.5 (MH⁺), 893.6, 847.5, 775.4, 573.4, 459.3. Found (ESI) 935.5223 C₅₆H₇₃N₄O₅Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 935.5212.

Data for complex 1h: The reaction was heated at reflux overnight and gave a yellow powder which was purified by dissolution in cold Et₂O followed by evaporation of solvent in vacuo and chromatography on Sephadex LH50 using toleune/ethanol (1:1) as eluent. Yield 30%;

[α]_(D) ²⁰ −612 (c=0.1, CHCl₃); ν_(max) (ATR) 2949 m, 1627 s, and 1552 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.26 (4H, s, 4×CH═N), 6.91 (4H, d J3.0 Hz, 4×ArH), 6.49 (4H, d J3.0 Hz, 4×ArH), 3.70 (12H, s, 4×OCH₃), 3.4-3.2 (4H, m, 4×CHN), 2.0-1.4 (16H, m 2×(CH₂)₄), 1.41 (36H, s, 4×C(CH₃)₃); m/z (Maldi) 1055.6 (MH⁺), 876.6, 848.5, 519.3, 494.3. Found (ESI) 1055.5602 C₆₀H₈₁N₄O₉Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 1055.5634.

Example 2 General Procedure for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates 3a-k

2,3a: R^(C1)=Ph 2,3b: R^(C1)=Me 2,3c: R^(C1)═CH₂Ph 2,3d: R^(C1)=Bu 2,3e: R^(C1)═C₈H₁₇ 2,3f: R^(C1)═CH₂OH 2,3g: R^(C1)═CH₂Cl 2,3h: R^(C1)═CH₂OAc 2,3i: R^(C1)═CH₂OCOPh 2,3j: R^(C1)═CH₂OPh 2,3k: R^(C1)=

A mixture of an epoxide 2a-k (2 mmol), tetrabutylammonium bromide (0-2.5 mol %) and the appropriate catalyst 1a-h (0-2.5 mol %) was vigorously stirred until complete dissolution occurred, then CO₂ was passed through the flask at atmospheric pressure. After being stirred at 25° C. for between 3 and 48 hours, a sample of the reaction was analysed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy to determine the conversion, and the reaction mixture was purified by flash chromatography to give cyclic carbonate 3a-k. The results are shown below:

Cyclic Catalyst Co-catalyst CO₂ pressure Temp Time Conv Reaction carbonate (mol %) (mol %) (atm.) (° C.) (h) (%) 1 3a 1a (0.1) Bu₄NBr (0.1) 1 25 3 5 2 3a 1a (1.0) Bu₄NBr (1.0) 1 25 3 38 3 3a 1a (1.0) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 56 4 3a 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (1.0) 1 25 3 51 5 3a 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 62 6 3a 1a (0.1) Bu₄NBr (0.1) 1 25 24 27 7 3a 1a (1.0) Bu₄NBr (1.0) 1 25 24 86 8 3a 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 24 98 9 3a 1b (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 50 10 3a 1c (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 52 11 3a 1d (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 33 12 3a 1e (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 41 13 3a 1f (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 28 14 3a 1g (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 51 15 3a 1h (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 64 16 3b 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 77 17 3b 1a (1) Bu₄NBr (1) 1 0 3 40 18 3b 1a (1) Bu₄NBr (1) 1 0 24 63 19 3c 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 0 3 44 20 3c 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 24 99 21 3d 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 87 22 3e 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 64 23 3f 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 43 24 3g 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 90 25 3h 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 50 26 3h 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 24 75 27 3i 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 72 28 3i 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 24 62 29 3j 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 55 30 3k 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 3 30 31 3k 1a (2.5) Bu₄NBr (2.5) 1 25 24 84 Comparative 3a 1a (1.0) — 1 25 3 0 reaction 1 Comparative 3a 1a (1.0) — 5 50 24 0 reaction 2 Comparative 3a 1a (0.1) DMAP (1.0) 8 50 24 0 reaction 3 Comparative 3a — Bu₄NBr (1.0) 1 25 3 4 reaction 4

Detailed Results for Example 2

The analysis data are given below for cyclic carbonates 3a-e, synthesised under the following conditions:

Temperature: 25° C.

Pressure: atmospheric

Reaction time: 3 hours

Catalyst: 1a (2.5 mol %)

Co-catalyst: Bu₄NBr (2.5 mol %)

Data for styrene carbonate 3a—Reaction 5: Conversion 62%, isolated yield 57% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3). Mp 49-52° C.; ν_(max) (ATR) 3047 m, 3020 m, 2968 m, 2899 m, 1812 s, and 1592 cm⁻¹ w; δ_(H) 7.5-7.2 (5H, m, ArH), 5.68 (1H, t J8.0 Hz, PhCHO), 4.81 (1H, t J8.5 Hz, OCH₂), 4.35 (1H, t J8.4 Hz, OCH₂). δ_(C) 154.9, 135.9, 129.8, 129.3, 126.0, 78.1, 71.3; m/z (EI) 164 (M⁺, 100), 119 (10), 105 (10).

Data for propylene carbonate 3b—Reaction 17: Reaction carried out at 0° C., conversion 82%, isolated yield 77% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc) ν_(max) (neat) 2991 m, 2921 m, 1786 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H) 4.9-4.8 (1H, m, CHO), 4.55 (1H, t J8.4 Hz OCH₂), 4.02 (1H, dd J8.4, 7.3 Hz OCH₂), 1.49 (3H, d J6.3 Hz, CH₃); δ_(C) 154.5, 73.7, 70.9, 19.7; m/z (EI) 102 (M⁺, 100), 100 (5).

Data for allylbenzene carbonate 3c—Reaction 19: Conversion 50%, isolated yield 44% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3). ν_(max) (neat) 3064 w, 3031 w, 2980 w, 2920 w, 1800 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H) 7.2-7.0 (5H, m, ArH), 4.85 (1H, m, OCH), 4.35 (1H, t J7.8 Hz, OCH₂), 4.08 (1H, dd J8.4, 6.9 Hz, OCH₂), 3.06 (1H, dd J14.1, 6.3 Hz, CH₂Ph), 2.90 (1H, dd J14.1, 6.3 Hz, CH₂Ph); δ_(C) 154.5, 134.1, 129.3, 128.9, 127.5, 76.8, 68.5, 39.6; m/z (EI), 178 (M⁺, 20), 91 (100).

Data for hex-1-ene carbonate 3d—Reaction 21: Conversion 90%, isolated yield 87% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3). ν_(max) (neat) 2960 s, 2934 s, 2874 m, 1797 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H) 4.64 (1H, qd J7.5, 5.4 Hz, OCH), 4.46 (1H, t J7.8 Hz, OCH₂), 4.09 (1H, dd J8.4, 7.2 Hz, OCH₂), 2.0-1.6 (2H, m, CH₂), 1.6-1.2 (4H, m, 2×CH₂), 0.95 (3H, t J7.1 Hz, CH₃); δ_(C) 155.2, 77.2, 69.5, 33.7, 26.5, 22.4, 13.9; m/z? (C₁, NH₃), 162 (M+NH₄ ⁺, 100), 161 (40), 100 (10).

Data for dec-1-ene carbonate 3e—Reaction 22: Conversion 70%, isolated yield 64% after purification by flash chromatography (Et₂O). ν_(max) (neat) 2928 s, 2857 s, 1805 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H) 4.72 (1H, qd J7.5, 5.7 Hz, OCH), 4.54 (1H, t J8.1 Hz, OCH₂), 4.09 (1H, t J7.5 Hz, OCH₂), 1.9-1.6 (2H, m, CH₂), 1.6-1.2 (12H, m, 6×CH₂), 0.90 (3H, t J6.6 Hz, CH₃); δ_(C) 155.2, 77.1, 69.5, 34.0, 31.9, 29.4, 29.2, 29.1, 24.5, 22.7, 14.2; m/z (EI), 162 (M⁺, 8), 95 (38), 67 (100).

Data for hydroxypropyl carbonate 3f—Reaction 23: Conversion 43%, isolated yield 36% after purification by distillation. ν_(max) (neat) 3400 s, 2933 m, and 1789 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 4.8-4.9 (1H, m, OCH), 4.4-4.5 (2H, m, CH₂), 3.9-4.0 (1H, m OCH), 3.6-3.8 (2H, br, OH, OCH); δ_(C)(CDCl₃) 155.2, 75.0, 65.8, 61.6; m/z (CI) 119 (MH⁺, 100), 118 (M⁺, 10).

Data for chloropropyl carbonate 3g—Reaction 24: Conversion 90%, isolated yield 60% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3). ν_(max)(neat) 3467 w, 1960 m, and 1799 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 5.0-4.9 (1H, m, OCH), 4.59 (1H, dd J8.7, 8.4 Hz, OCH₂), 4.40 (1H, dd J9.0, 8.7 Hz, OCH₂), 3.8-3.7 (2H, m, CH₂Cl); δ_(C) (CDCl₃) 154.4, 74.6, 67.4, 43.9; m/z (EI) 139 ((³⁷Cl)M⁺, 5), 137 ((³⁵Cl)M⁺, 10), 86 (35), 87 (55), 49 (45), 51 (13), 43 (100), 44 (25).

Data for acetyloxypropyl carbonate 3h—Reaction 25: Conversion 50%, isolated yield 34% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3). Reaction 26: Conversion 75%, isolated yield 55% after purification by flash chromatography. ν_(max) (neat) 3545 m, 2960 m, 1788 s, and 1746 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 4.93 (1H, m, OCH), 4.57 (1H, t J9.0 Hz, OCH₂), 4.27 (3H, m, OCH₂, CH₂), 2.15 (3H, s, CH₃); δ_(C)(CDCl₃) 170.5, 154.8, 74.1, 66.4, 63.4, 20.1; m/z (EI) 161 (MH⁺, 75) 160 (M⁺, 8), 43 (100).

Data for phenylcarbonyloxypropyl carbonate 3i—Reaction 27: Conversion 72%, isolated yield 12% after purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 1:3). Reaction 28: Conversion 62%, isolated yield 58% following purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 1:3). ν_(max) (neat) 3585 m, 3055 m, 2956 m, 1799 s, and 1715 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 8.0-8.1 (2H, m, ArH) 7.6-7.7 (1H, m, ArH), 7.4-7.5 (2H, m, ArH), 5.0-5.1 (1H, m, OCH), 4.5-4.6 (4H, m, OCH₂, CH₂); δ_(C) (CDCl₃) 166.4, 154.8, 134.1, 130.2, 129.2, 129.1, 74.3, 66.5, 66.0; m/z (EI) 223 (MH⁺, 3), 122 (13), 105 (100), 77 (38), 51 (15).

Data for phenoxypropylcarbonate 3j—Reaction 29: Conversion 55%, isolated yield 46% following purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3) followed by recrystallization from hexane. ν_(max)(neat) 2524 w, 2160 s, 2032 s, 1976 s, and 1783 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 7.3-7.4 (2H, m, 2×ArH), 7.01 (1H, t J7.4 Hz, ArH), 6.9-7.0 (2H, m, 2×ArH), 5.1-5.0 (1H, m, OCH), 4.7-4.5 (2H, m, OCH₂), 4.24 (1H, dd J10.5, 4.2 Hz, OCH₂), 4.14 (1H, dd J 10.8, 9.0 Hz, OCH₂); δ_(C) (CDCl₃) 158.1, 155.0, 130.1, 122.4, 155.0, 74.5, 67.3, 66.6; m/z (EI) 194 (M⁺, 100), 133 (11), 107 (70), 94 (50), 79 (25), 66 (18).

Data for 4-methoxyphenylethylcarbonate 3k—reaction 30: Yield 30%. Reaction 31: yield 84%, isolated yield 79% following purification by flash chromatography (hexane/EtOAc 2:3). ν_(max) (neat) 2926 w, 1789 s, 1612 s, 1513 s, 1248 s, and 1163 cm⁻¹ s; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 7.29 (2H, d J8.7 Hz, 2×ArH), 6.94 (2H, d J8.7 Hz, 2×ArH), 5.60 (1H, t J8.1 Hz, OCH), 4.74 (1H, t J8.4 Hz, OCH₂), 4.33 (1H, t J9.0 Hz, OCH₂), 3.81 (3H, s, OCH₃); δ_(C)(CDCl₃) 160.7, 154.8, 127.7, 127.4, 114.6, 78.1, 71.0, 55.3; m/z (EI) 195 (MH⁺, 12), 194 (M⁺, 20), 150 (50), 149 (25), 135 (20), 122 (12), 121 (100), 119 (20), 91 (25).

Example 3

1R,2R)-Cyclohexane-1,2-diammonium dichloride (5)

(Larrow, J. F, et al., J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 193

To a suspension of (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diammonium L-tartrate (4)(13.7 g, 52 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL) was added a cooled solution (0° C.) of acetyl chloride (27.4 mL, 385 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL). The solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. The resulting precipitate was filtered off, washed with Et₂O (10 mL) and dried by suction to leave the desired product as a white powder. A second crop was obtained by diluting the mother liquor with Et₂O (200 mL) and cooling for half an hour. The product was collected and dried to yield a white powder. Yield: 80%. Crystalline white powder. [α]²⁰ _(D) −16 (c 5.0, aq. 1 M HCl). ¹H-NMR δ_(H) (DMSO-d₆, 300 MHz): 1.05-1.25, 1.30-1.55 (4H, 2m, CH₂CH₂CHN), 1.60-1.75, 2.00-2.15 (4H, 2m, CH₂CHN), 3.13-3.30 (2H, m, CHN), 8.70 (6H, br s, NH₃).

3-tert-Butylsalicylaldehyde (7)

(Gisch, N.; Balzarini, J.; Meier, C. J. Med. Chem. 2007, 50, 1658)

To a stirred suspension of 2-tert-butylphenol (6)(4.55 g, 30 mmol), magnesium chloride (5.71 g, 60 mmol) and paraformaldehyde (2.08 g, 66 mmol) in THF (120 mL) at room temperature, was added triethylamine (8.35 mL, 60 mmol) dropwise. The reaction was heated to reflux for 3 hours to give an orange suspension. The crude was extracted using EtOAc (3×50 mL). A small amount of diluted HCl can be added if a permanent emulsion is formed. The organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and the volatiles evaporated under low pressure to yield a pale yellow oil which did not need any further purification. It can become dark green on storage. Yield: 90%. Pale yellow oil. ¹H-NMR δ_(H) (CDCl₃, 300 MHz): 1.44 (9H, s, 3×CH₃), 6.97 (1H, t, J=7.5 Hz, H_(Ar)), 7.41 (1H, dd, J=1.5 Hz, J=7.5 Hz, H_(Ar)), 7.54 (1H, dd, J=1.2 Hz, J=7.5 Hz, H_(Ar)), 9.88 (1H, s, CHO), 11.82 (1H, s, OH).

3-tert-Butyl-5-chloromethylsalicylaldehyde (8)

A mixture of 3-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde (7)(3.56 g, 20 mmol) and paraformaldehyde (1.20 g, 40 mmol) was stirred with concentrated HCl (15 mL) for 14 days, although with the first drops of concentrated HCl, the emulsion became red. The mixture was then treated with a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ until neutralisation. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3×30 mL). Organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and the volatiles were evaporated under low pressure to give a beige solid which did not require further purification. Yield: 97%. Beige to red solid. ¹H-NMR δ_(H) (CDCl₃, 300 MHz): 1.43 (9H, s, 3×CH₃), 4.59 (2H, s, CH₂), 7.43, 7.52 (2H, 2d, J=2.1 Hz, 2×H_(Ar)), 9.87 (1H, s, CHO), 11.86 (1H, s, OH).

3-tert-Butyl-5-diethylaminomethylsalicylaldehyde hydrochloride (9)

To a solution of 3-tert-butyl-5-chloromethylsalicylaldehyde (8)(226.5 mg, 1 mmol) in acetonitrile (60 mL), diethylamine (1 mmol) was added dropwise to give a greenish solution. The reaction was stirred at 30° C. overnight. After evaporation of volatiles, a green oil was obtained and it was used without any purification for the next step. Yield: 77%. Green oil. IR 3300, 2899, 1720. ¹H-NMR δ_(H) (CDCl₃, 300 MHz): 1.35 (9H, s, C(CH₃)₃), 1.45 (61-1, t, J=7.2 Hz, 2×CH₂CH₃), 3.43 (4H, q, J=7.2 Hz, 2×CH₂CH₃), 4.90 (2H, s, CCH₂N), 7.57, 8.03 (2H, 2d, J=2.1 Hz, 2×HAr), 9.98 (1H, s, CHO), 12.00 (1H, br s, OH). δ_(C)(CDCl₃, 75 MHz): 10.8, 28.3, 33.7, 45.8, 56.0, 119.5, 129.8, 130.3, 133.7, 137.0, 159.0, 195.9.

HRMS: Calcd. for C₁₈H₃₀NO₂ ⁺ 292.2277. found 292.2243.

(1R,2R)—N,N′-Bis(3-tert-butyl-5-diethylaminomethylsalicylidene)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (10)

(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diammonium dichloride (5)(93.5 mg, 0.5 mmol) and NaOMe (55 mg, 1 mmol) were stirred in MeOH (10 mL) for 30 min. After that, a solution of 3-tert-butyl-5-diethylaminomethylsalicylaldehyde hydrochloride (9)(299.8 mg, 1 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) was added and the solution, which became rapidly yellow, was stirred overnight at 30° C. Evaporation of MeOH was followed by addition of a saturated solution of Na₂CO₃ (20 mL). Organic compounds were extracted using dichloromethane (3×15 mL). It is important that the aqueous phase remains completely colourless and the organic layer changes from orange to green colour. Organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and volatiles were removed under vacuum to give a greenish slurry oil which was used without any purification in the next step. Yield: 55%. Yellow-green oil. [α]²⁰ _(D) −184.5 (c 1.0, CHCl₃). IR 3410, 2899, 1610, 1550, 830. ¹H-NMR δ_(H) (CDCl₃, 300 MHz): 0.99 (12H, t, J=7.2 Hz, 4×CH₂CH₃), 1.40 (18H, s, 2×C(CH₃)₃), 1.50-2.05 (8H, m, (CH₂)₄), 2.44 (8H, q, J=7.2 Hz, 4×CH₂CH₃), 3.40-3.50 (6H, m, 2×CHN, 2×CCH₂N), 6.95, 7.17 (4H, 2d, J=1.8 Hz, 4×H_(Ar)), 8.28 (2H, s, 2×HC═N), 13.77 (2H, br s, 2×OH). δ_(C)(CDCl₃, 75 MHz): 11.9, 24.4, 29.6, 33.2, 34.8, 46.8, 57.3, 72.5, 118.4, 128.8, 129.8, 130.1, 136.9, 159.3, 165.7. HRMS: Calcd. for C₃₈H₆₁N₄O₂ ⁺ 605.4795. found 605.4783.

Bis[(1R,2R)—N,N′-Bis(3-tert-butyl-5-diethylaminomethylsalicylidene)cyclohexane-1,2-diaminoaluminium(III)]oxide (11)

This reaction was performed under an inert atmosphere in dry conditions. The ligand (10)(1 mmol) and Al(OEt)₃ (324.1 mg, 2 mmol) were dissolved in toluene (10 mL). The reacting mixture was heated to reflux for 5 hours. Occasional residue of alumina could be removed by filtering through a sinter. The mother liquor was evaporated and then, H₂O (30 mL) and CH₂Cl₂(30 mL) were added. The complex was extracted using dichloromethane (3×20 mL) and organic layers were dried over MgSO₄. Volatiles were removed under low pressure to give a pale solid, which was recrystallised using acetonitrile. Yield: 40%. Pale green solid. [α]²⁰ _(D) −522 (c 1.0, CHCl₃). IR 2865, 1626, 1548, 1440, 1027, 836, 577. ¹H-NMR δ_(H) (CDCl₃, 300 MHz): 1.02 (24H, t, J=7.2 Hz, 8×CH₂CH₃), 1.46 (36H, s, 4×C(CH₃)₃), 1.50-2.15 (16H, m, 2×(CH₂)₄), 2.52 (16H, m, 8×CH₂CH₃), 3.10-3.15, 3.80-3.85 (4H, 2m, 4×CHN), 3.50 (8H, m, 4×CCH₂N), 7.09, 7.35 (8H, 2d, J=5.7 Hz, 8×H_(Ar)), 8.19, 8.37 (4H, 2s, 4×HC═N). (δ_(C) (CDCl₃, 75 MHz): 10.2, 24.7, 29.9, 30.1, 35.0, 47.1, 57.6, 73.2, 118.9, 119.2, 128.9, 135.3, 141.7, 157.2, 165.1. m/z (electrospray) 661.5 (100), 1275.9 (80), 1276.9 (72), 1277.9 (32), 1278.9 (16), 1279.9 (4)

Use of Catalyst 11

Catalyst 11 was tested in the insertion of carbon dioxide into styrene oxide. The reaction was carried out with no solvent using catalyst 11 (2.5 mol %) and tetrabutylammonium bromide (2.5 mol %) under a carbon dioxide atmosphere (1 atm. Pressure). After 3 hours a conversion of 69% was obtained.

Example 4

N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-salicylidene)propane-1,3-diamine (14)

(Nomura, N. et al., Chem. Eur. J. 2007, 13, 4433-4451)

3,5-Di-tert-butyl salicylaldehyde (13)(1.34 mmol) and 1,3-diamino propane (12)(0.68 mmol) were mixed together and stirred at room temperature. After 1 hour, methanol (4 mL) was added forming a yellow precipitate which was allowed to stir overnight. The precipitate was extracted with CH₂Cl₂/water (2×10 mL of CH₂Cl₂), then the organic layer was recovered, dried (Na₂SO₄) and finally evaporated under vacuum to give a yellow residue which was recrystallized from methanol to give the desired ligand (96%) as a yellow solid. ν_(max) (ATR) 2956 s, 2530 w, 2159 s, 2031 s, 1977 s, 1630 s, and 1439 cm⁻¹ m; δ_(H)(CDCl₃) 13.82 (2H, s, 2×OH), 8.39 (2H, s, 2×CH═N), 7.39 (2H, d J2.4 Hz, ArH), 7.09 (2H, d J2.4 Hz, ArH), 3.71 (4H, t J6.4 Hz, 2×CH₂), 2.1-2.2 (2H, m, —CH₂—); δ_(C)(CDCl₃, 75 MHz): 166.5, 158.1, 140.1, 136.7, 126.7, 125.8, 56.8, 35.0, 34.1, 31.5, 29.5, 26.2; HRMS: Calcd. for C₃₃H₅₁N₂O₂ (MH⁺) 507.3988. found 507.3951.

Catalyst 15

N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-salicylidene)propane-1,3-diamine (14)(0.19 mmol) and Al(OEt)₃ (0.20 mmol) were dissolved in toluene (40 mL) and heated at reflux for 4 hours. Solvents were removed under reduced pressure and H₂O (20 mL) and CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) were added. The complex was extracted using dichloromethane (3×20 mL) and the organic layers were combined and dried (MgSO₄). Solvents were removed under reduced pressure to give the desired complex as a yellow solid in 45% yield. ν_(max) (ATR) 2959 m, and 1622 cm⁻¹ m; δ^(H)(CDCl₃) 1.31 (36H, s, 4×C(CH₃)₃), 1.46 (36H, s, 4×C(CH₃)₃), 2.1-2.2 (4H, m, 2×CH₂), 3.71 (8H, t J6.9 Hz, 4×NCH₂), 7.09 (4H, d J2.4 Hz, 4×ArH), 7.39 (4H, d J2.4 Hz, 4×ArH), 8.40 (4H, s, 4×CH═N); m/z found (ESI) 1079.7168 C₆₆H₉₇N₄O₅Al₂ (MH⁺) requires 1079.7090.

Use of Catalyst 15

Catalyst 15 was tested in the insertion of carbon dioxide into styrene oxide. The reaction was carried out with no solvent using catalyst 15 (2.5 mol %) and tetrabutylammonium bromide (2.5 mol %) under a carbon dioxide atmosphere (1 atm. Pressure). After 3 hours a conversion of 14% was obtained. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the production of cyclic carbonates comprising contacting an epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst, and a co-catalyst capable of supplying where Y is selected from Cl, Br and I, and the co-catalyst is selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KI, R₄NY, R₃SY, R₄PY and R₄SbY, where each R is independently selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, where the dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst is of formula I:

wherein: Y-Q is CH═N each of the substituents R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, and R¹⁶, is independently selected from H, C₁₋₇ alkyl, OC₁₋₇ alkyl, and nitro; or R⁴═R⁸═R¹²═R¹⁶═H, and R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵ are independently selected from H, C₁₋₇ alkyl, and diethylaminomethyl; X is the formula —(CH₂)_(n)—, where n is 2, or 3, or represents a divalent group selected from C₆arylene, and C₆cyclic alkylene.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the catalysed reaction is:

wherein R^(C3) and R^(C4) are independently selected from H, optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, optionally substituted C₃₋₂₀ heterocyclyl and optionally substituted C₅₋₂₀ aryl, or R^(C3) and R^(C4) form an optionally substituted linking group between the two carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached.
 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the source of Y⁻ is selected from R₄NY, R₃SY, R₄PY and R₄SbY, where each R is independently selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkyl.
 4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula I is symmetrical, such that R¹═R¹³, R²═R¹⁴, R³═R¹⁵, R⁴═R¹⁶, R⁵═R⁹, R⁶═R¹⁰, R⁷═R¹¹, and R⁸═R¹².
 5. The process according to claim 4, wherein R¹, R⁵, R⁹, and R¹³ are identical, R², R⁶, R¹⁰ and R¹⁴ are identical, R³, R⁷, R¹¹, and R¹⁵ are identical, and R⁴, R⁸, R¹² and R¹⁶ are identical.
 6. The process according to claim 1, wherein X represents a divalent group selected from C₆arylene and C₆cyclic alkylene.
 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein R⁴═R⁸═R¹²═R¹⁶═H. 